Early morning move for ‘Cambridge Don’
No: 45,480
A £150,000 STATUE in Cambridge described as having a “harmful material impact” on the appearance of the area has been moved.
Keen-eyed readers spotted ‘The Cambridge Don’ being moved at around 4am on Tuesday (July 30).
It was placed just a few metres away from its original position on a patch of grass outside Charter House.
Cambridge City Council has confirmed it was not involved in the movement. The News is currently trying to contact the landowners for comment.
The sculpture, said to represent Prince Philip in his role of Cambridge University chancellor, was met with shock when it first appeared on Hills Road.
It was described by Cambridge City Council’s public art officer as “possibly the poorest quality work that [had] ever been submitted to the council”.
Artist Pablo Atchugarry was believed to have created the piece, and later disowned it.
The city council issued a formal enforcement notice in March, stating the sculpture needed to be permanently removed and the land it sits on restored to its former condition.
The council said the sculpture appeared to have been put up within the last four years without planning permission.
Referring to Tuesday’s movement, a council spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we were not involved in any way in moving the statue.
“It appears to have been moved to another part of the same site, and we are seeking clarification from the planning inspectorate and the site owner ahead of the Public Inquiry which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 6 and Thursday 8 August.”
In June, a fight was launched by Unex Ltd to keep the statue in its original position.
An inquiry is due to be held by the planning inspectorate to consider the appeal.